Let’s Talk About Laboratory Health & Safety

16 Sep

Let’s Talk About Laboratory Health & Safety

Are laboratories dangerous places?

The answer is YES.

But only if appropriate control measures are not implemented while designing and operating laboratories.

Engineering controls are incorporated at the lab planning and design stage, but day-to-day operations involve a lot of administrative or management controls to ensure the safety of the lab users.

I have worked in a laboratory environment in academia and industry for over 25 years in various roles such as student, researcher, lab manager, team leader and now as a lab designer. Over this time, I have seen first-hand how laboratories have become safer. There could be a multitude of reasons for laboratories now being (dramatically) safer – globalisation leading to research collaborations and visibility, talent migration, access to information, tighter regulatory control, learning from accidents happening in other laboratories (on different continents), reputational risk and so on.

Let’s talk about the operational health and safety aspects of laboratories.

What makes laboratories dangerous?

Depending on each organisation’s research area e.g. chemistry, biology, physics, or interdisciplinary; and the complexity of research including type and quantities of chemicals used, pathogenicity of organisms tested or type of radiation used the handling, manipulation, storage, and disposal of the below materials makes laboratories dangerous.

Chemicals – carcinogenic, oxidising, flammable, corrosive, mutagenic substances

Biologicals – pathogenic organisms hazardous to users, co-workers, communities (sometimes without any available treatment)

Lasers, Radiation – harmful to users, co-workers, or passers-by.

But it is not all that scary.

We must remember that - as a minimum - all laboratory users are well qualified and trained to understand the subject area of their research and materials they are handling.

However, research by nature is exploring the unknown, and handling the unknown requires CAUTION.

There is a caveat; passionate and driven researchers chasing their research goals are sometimes reluctant to adhere to health and safety mandate (a hurdle in their path).

That is where the administrative controls play a massive role in health & safety. Controls can take a form of written procedures (standard operating procedures, SOPs, the standard of works, SOWs), proper induction and regular training, record-keeping, medical examinations (in some cases) and reporting.

Other practices include an extra level of scrutiny while handling very toxic, volatile materials or handling higher hazard group agents via protocol approval (e.g. scale-up reaction) or witnessing by senior team members.

Use of appropriate personal protection equipment, PPE, such as lab-coats, safety goggles and gloves are common in most laboratories, but some laboratories warrant the use of bodysuits and respirators.

Organisations assign designated Health & Safety Officers, HSOs or Biological Safety Officers, BSOs who oversee and ensure the health and safety compliance at all times. Many organisations have health and safety committees representing various divisions/specialisms that meet regularly to discuss health and safety, and to review processes and accident records. The HSO and BSO go through professional health and safety training regularly.

When working with start-ups, the Bulb team advise them to assign HSO/BSO as soon as possible.

Laboratories Health & Safety Post COVID-19

Due to the nature of the research work carried out, most labs are less densely populated than offices. Often every researcher has their assigned workspace, e.g. bench and fume cupboard in chemistry labs, hence allowing for natural distancing from each other.

However, many areas are shared between researchers, e.g. analytical instruments, cold rooms, store rooms, utility area etc. A clear management policy regarding cleaning equipment before and after, logging users, reporting etc. would be required with responsibilities assigned to various team members for compliance.

A more controlled approach would be needed for incubator and accelerator buildings where multiple companies share the lab facilities.

As per our understanding, many scientific and healthcare organisations were operating during the lockdown period, although some in shift patterns.

For example, one organisation split the team into am and pm teams, colour coded red and blue. The am team was to use benches - only - on the right side of the lab, all facing in the same direction and standing/sitting in a zig-zag manner to avoid exposure. The pattern was reversed for the pm team. Both the groups received video training on all the aspects of health and safety, ranging from how coronavirus spreads, to how to wear gloves, to safe disposal of waste.

A shared calendar indicating who is on which shift and their core activities for the day was created. As only critical lab staff on the premises were allowed, the calendar helped to keep an eye on non-compliance. The rest of the team would carry out tasks such as experimental planning, data analysis, literature search and meetings from home.

Some standard measures across organisations such as one way traffic flow, ample cleaning stations, an accurate log of users/usage, clear labelling of reagents, reactions, instruments, and waste; as well as crystal clear communication from management seem to be a way forward for laboratory health and safety in laboratories post COVID-19.

All the laboratories will need to review their safety procedures, processes, and protocols regularly.

Overall, health and safety considerations and management in laboratories are paramount at all times but during the crisis of COVID-19, the scientific and healthcare community has shown the world how truly resilient, innovative, responsive and inspirational it is.

Dr Manisha Kulkarni 
Head of Science & Technology
Bulb Laboratories

Benching

Laboratory benching forms a central part of any laboratory and procuring the laboratory benching to suit your equipment needs and budget is important to us.

If you prefer fixed, robust benching or modular benching that offers flexibility and reconfiguration, our laboratory furniture manufacturers can deliver the perfect solution.

furniture fittings benching

Worktops

Depending on your research focus your worktop design requirements might change to allow:

  • Chemical resistance
  • Bacterial resistance
  • Water & moisture resistance
  • Durability & scratch resistance
  • Ease of cleaning
  • High impact

Trespa Toplab Base is the industry favourite, but we can offer alternative worktops such as Corian, Stainless Steel, Epoxy Resin, Hardwood, Phenolic Resin to match your needs.

furniture fittings worktops

Shelving

We offer both wall mounted and benchtop shelving for reagents, typically in either 18mm MFMDF or 16mm Trespa Toplab Base. Wall shelving is mounted on a bracket system, while benchtop shelving is typically supported by fabricated steel frame.

furniture fittings worktops

Fume Cupboards & Extract

Properly ventilated Fume Cupboards offer a safe way to handle chemicals and solvents in laboratories.

From ducted to portable ductless Fume Cupboards, our specialist and experienced partners are at hand to advise and install the right solution.

We provide Fume Cupboards manufactured and installed to meet the industry requirements (e.g. BS EN 14175) in various sizes (External Width 1000mm - 1200mm - 1500mm - 1800mm - 2000mm), Specifications and types (Bench Mounted, Walk In, Double Fronted, Integral Scrubber, HF Type, Thin Wall Bench Mounted) to meet your requirements and safe extraction.

Unsure of what type to go for? Our lab furniture suppliers can help, just get in touch.

furniture fittings worktops

Safety Cabinets

If you prefer fixed, robust benching or modular benching that offers flexibility and reconfiguration, our laboratory furniture manufacturers can deliver the perfect solution.

Whether you need Class I, II or III to handle Hazard Group 1 to 4 pathogens we can recommend suitable furniture suppliers.

furniture fittings worktops

Specialist & Other Requirements

If you have any specific needs such as Cold Room or Clean Room installation services, Industrial Gases, Liquid Nitrogen, Non-ionising Radiation (LASER), Plumbing, Temperature & Humidity Control or other, we can help.

furniture fittings worktops